Lucknow: In Uttar Pradesh, the infamous Unnao rape case continues to haunt the ruling Bhartiya Janta Party. While the former BJP legislator Kuldeep Senger is behind the bars in this case after being convicted, one of his close aide was announced party nominee for the post of Zila Panchayat Chairman from Unnao district. However after severe criticism the party changed ticket. Arun Singh who was earlier announced as the BJP nominee is also son-in-law of state minister Rananjay Singh. Later on Thursday evening, party changed the ticket and named Shakun Singh as its official nominee.
On Wednesday, a day before state BJP leaders had announced the candidature, Arun Singh’s name figured in the FIR lodged by the central bureau of investigation (CBI) in the case of deliberate road accident of rape victim and her family members. The accident had took place when the victim along with family members was going to attend the hearing in the rape case. The CBI has registered FIR in this case naming 10 people who masterminded the road accident.
The rape victim in Unnao case has written a letter to the prime minister, chief minister as well as President of India demanding justice. She said that the BJP Zila Panchayat nominee from Unnao is close aide of Kuldeep Senger, the prime accused in the rape case. She had named BJP nominee Arun Singh in the FIR lodged after the road accident accusing him of being the mastermind behind it. The rape victim on Thursday released a video accusing BJP of shielding and promoting the accused. In the video, she has question as to why the BJP has given ticket to person who is a threat to her life. She said that Arun Singh was also named in the FIR lodged in connection with the murder of her father. She had demanded that BJP should immediately withdraw the candidature of Arun Singh from Unnao and ensure that no such persons are being promoted in the party.
Taking a serious note of all this controversy the state BJP leaders changed the candidature of Arun Singh and now Shakum Singh, wife of former legislative council member Ajeet Singh has been asked to file her nomination.
It may be mentioned that last year also a controversy was raised when BJP had fielded wife of convicted legislator Kuldeep Senger in the by-elections for Bangarmau assembly seat in Unnao. After being targeted by opposition and several leaders of own party, the ticket was withdrawn. This seat had fallen vacant after the conviction of Kuldeep Senger in the Unnao rape case.
